India’s Blue Economy – Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries
Syllabus: Economy & Ecology (UPSC GS III)
Source: PIB
Context:
NITI Aayog has released a report titled “India’s Blue Economy – Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries” that presents a scientific, sustainable, and inclusive roadmap to develop India’s underutilised deep-sea and offshore fisheries.
Current Status and Overview
- Underdeveloped Sector: Despite an estimated 7.16 million tonnes (MT) potential within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), deep-sea fishing remains at an early stage.
- Limited High-Seas Presence: India has only 4 Indian-flagged vessels operating in high seas, compared to Sri Lanka’s 1,883 and Iran’s 1,216, showing weak international engagement.
- Regulatory Gaps: There is no specific law for fishing between 12–200 nautical miles, leading to unregulated (IUU) fishing.
- Jurisdictional Constraints: State regulations extend only up to 12 nmi, leaving most of the EEZ under central oversight but with limited control.
Resource Potential
Fig 3.1: The resource potential in the deep-sea realm (200–500 m depth) of mainland Indian EEZ (including Wadge Bank and Gulf of Mannar)
| Region | Potential (tonnes) |
|---|---|
| Southwest coast (7–15°N) | 58,249 |
| Northwest coast (15–23°N) | 25,366 |
| Northeast coast (15–23°N) | 8,174 |
| Southeast coast (10–15°N) | 5,672 |
| Total | 97,461 |
Source: Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries (DADF), 2018
Opportunities and Potential
- Economic Growth: Deep-sea expansion can boost exports beyond ₹60,523 crore (FY 2023–24).
- Livelihood Creation: Modern deep-sea vessels can earn up to ₹32 lakh annual profit, about 10× more than small motorised boats.
- Coastal Relief: Shifting fishing efforts offshore will reduce pressure on coastal fish stocks.
- Untapped Resources: Around 1.847 MT in lanternfish, squids, and deep-sea shrimp remains unexploited.
- Strategic Edge: Strengthening India’s offshore presence enhances maritime food security and Indian Ocean influence.
Major Challenges
- Policy Vacuum: Absence of a unified EEZ Fisheries Act causes fragmented regulation among maritime, environment, and defence agencies.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Few of India’s 90 fishing harbours can handle large vessels; cold storage and processing units are limited.
- High Operating Costs: Deep-sea fishing requires high investment in fuel, technology, and maintenance.
- Data Deficiency: Lack of a central fish stock database leads to poor planning and risk of overfishing.
- Environmental Risks: Deep-sea trawling and bycatch threaten fragile marine ecosystems.
Global Best Practices
- China: Operates large distant-water fleets and “motherships,” though faces sustainability challenges.
- Spain: Uses Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), eco-friendly gear, and traceability tools for responsible fishing.
- New Zealand: Follows a Quota Management System (QMS) balancing economy and ecology.
NITI Aayog’s Key Recommendations
- Policy Overhaul: Formulate a National EEZ Fisheries Act, aligned with UNCLOS, with subsidies linked to sustainability.
- Institutional Strengthening: Establish a Deep-Sea Fisheries Authority, enhance data systems and research capacity.
- Fleet Modernisation: Promote GPS-equipped, cold-storage vessels, and cooperative ownership models.
- Sustainable Management: Enforce ecosystem-based catch limits and real-time vessel tracking.
- Financing Support: Create a Deep-Sea Fishing Development Fund through PPPs, soft loans, and insurance.
- Stakeholder Inclusion: Ensure community participation and training for traditional and small-scale fishers.
Conclusion
The report envisions a Blue Revolution 2.0—linking economic growth with ecological balance. A well-regulated, technology-driven deep-sea sector can enhance exports, secure livelihoods, and reinforce India’s maritime and blue economy leadership.
